Incorporating a repair vendor into repair planning for a supply chain

ABSTRACT

One embodiment includes a computer-implemented system for incorporating a repair vendor into repair planning for a supply chain. The system accesses a logical representation of the supply chain and identify one or more controlling locations and one or more staging locations in the supply chain. The system accesses information indicating a replenishment requirement at a particular identified controlling location resulting from safety stock at the particular identified controlling location dropping below a predetermined threshold. In response to the information indicating the replenishment requirement at the particular identified controlling location, the system identifies every primary network in the supply chain connecting the particular identified controlling location to one or more identified staging locations. The system selects one or more of the particular identified controlling location and one or more identified staging locations each connected to the particular identified controlling location by a primary network and generates one or more repair orders.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/558,744 filed Mar. 31, 2004.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to repair planning and in particular toincorporating a repair vendor into repair planning for a supply chain.

BACKGROUND

A critical aspect of many supply chains is a network of repair locationsthat cooperate to receive, diagnose, and repair broken or otherwiseunusable parts so that these parts can be returned to service andconsumed similar to regular inventory. For example, a typicalmulti-level repair network may include, within a first level, a numberof repair centers at a number of locations that receive, diagnose, andrepair unusable parts and may each specialize in repairing a particulartype of part. If a repair center is able to repair a part, then therepair center may repair the part and ship the repaired part to one of anumber of stocking locations for consumption. If the repair center isunable to repair the part, however, then the part may need to be shippedto one of a number of central repair centers within a second level,which may each specialize in repairing a particular type of part, wherethe part is again received, diagnosed, and hopefully repaired. If thecentral repair center is able to repair a part, then the repair centermay repair the part and ship the repaired part to an appropriatestocking location. If the central repair center is unable to repair thepart, however, then the part may need to be further shipped to a vendorof the part within a third level (or perhaps at one or more higherlevels), where the part is once again received, diagnosed, and hopefullyrepaired. If the vendor is able to repair a part, the vendor may repairthe part and ship the repaired part to an appropriate stocking locationor warehouse. If the vendor is unable to repair the part, however, thepart may simply be discarded.

In certain industries, such repair processes may be very expensive,involving costs associated with temporary storage, diagnosis, andpossibly repair of a part at each repair location in the repair networkto which the part is shipped. Additional costs are incurred while a partremains unconsumed at a stocking location. Further costs must beincurred to ship a part between repair locations in the repair network.Repair planning involves attempts to minimize undesirable costsassociated with broken or otherwise unusable parts to improve thecost-efficiency of the supply chain and increase overall profitability.Previous repair planning techniques have been inadequate in many supplychain environments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous techniques for repair planning may be reducedor eliminated.

One embodiment includes a computer-implemented system for incorporatinga repair vendor into repair planning for a supply chain. The repairvendor is outside the supply chain and substantially independent ofcontrol from the supply chain. Unserviceable parts are moved from thesupply chain to the repair vendor, repaired at the repair vendor, andmoved back to the supply chain. The system includes one or more memoryunits and one or more processing units that collectively access alogical representation of the supply chain and identify one or morecontrolling locations and one or more staging locations in the supplychain. A controlling location includes a location in the supply chainfrom which unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendorand to which serviceable parts are moved directly from the repairvendor. A staging location includes a location in the supply chain fromwhich unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendor and towhich serviceable parts are moved from the repair vendor through acontrolling location. The one or more processing units collectivelyaccess information indicating a replenishment requirement at aparticular identified controlling location resulting from safety stockat the particular identified controlling location dropping below apredetermined threshold. In response to the information indicating thereplenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation, the one or more processing units collectively identify everyprimary network in the supply chain connecting the particular identifiedcontrolling location to one or more identified staging locations. Aprimary network includes a series of one or more forward bills ofdistribution (BODs) that have been designated primary forward BODsaccording to one or more criteria. The one or more processing unitscollectively select one or more of the particular identified controllinglocation and one or more identified staging locations each connected tothe particular identified controlling location by a primary network andgenerate one or more repair orders according to which one or moreunserviceable parts are to be moved from the selected locations to therepair vendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved from the repairvendor to the particular identified controlling location to meet thereplenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation.

Particular embodiments of the present invention may provide one or moretechnical advantages. For example, particular embodiments allow a repairvendor that is outside a supply chain to be incorporated into repairplanning for the supply chain. In particular embodiments, a repair planmay differentiate between “demand” requirements for repaired orotherwise serviceable parts, associated with fulfilling back orders,sales orders, and forecasted orders, and “replenishment” requirementsfor repaired or otherwise serviceable parts, associated withreplenishing safety stock, at locations in a supply chain. In particularembodiments, such differentiation may enable an enterprise associatedwith the supply chain to minimize costs associated with carrying outrepair orders and other operations to replenish safety stock, withoutunduly limiting the ability of the enterprise to carry out repair ordersand other operations to fill back orders, sales orders, and forecastedorders. Particular embodiments may differentiate between controllinglocations and staging locations in a supply chain. In particularembodiments, such differentiation may enable an enterprise to minimizecosts associated with carrying out repair orders and other operations toreplenish safety stock, without unduly limiting the ability of theenterprise to carry out repair orders and other operations to fill backorders, sales orders, and forecasted orders. In particular embodiments,such differentiation may enable an enterprise to minimize costsassociated with supply chain operations independent of repair planning.

Certain embodiments of the present invention may provide all, some, ornone of these technical advantages. Certain embodiments may provide oneor more other technical advantages, one or more of which may be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the figures, description, andclaims included herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To provide a more complete understanding of the present invention andthe features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system for incorporating a repair vendorinto repair planning for a supply chain;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example supply chain and a repair vendor;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example table of one or more controlling locationsand staging locations in the supply chain;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method for incorporating a repair vendorinto repair planning for the supply chain; and

FIG. 5 illustrates another example method for incorporating a repairvendor into repair planning for the supply chain.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 10 for incorporating a repairvendor into repair planning for a supply chain. In particularembodiments, system 10 may include a service parts planning system.System 10 generates repair plans including suggested repair orders forrepairing unserviceable parts. An unserviceable part is a part that isunusable or otherwise unserviceable and may have been unserviceable atmanufacture or may have become unserviceable later during service. Asdescribed below, system 10 may generate one or more repair orders inresponse to a demand or replenishment requirement. At least certainrepair orders may identify unserviceable parts for repair, specify afirst location from which those unserviceable parts should be moved forrepair, specify a second location to which those unserviceable partsshould be moved for repair, and specify the dates on which thoseunserviceable parts should be moved. The repair orders may also specifylogistics for moving those unserviceable parts.

In particular embodiments, system 10 includes a forecasting engine 12that generates demand forecasts. A demand forecast may forecast ordersfor one or more parts received at one or more locations in a supplychain over a forecast period. Forecasting engine 12 may use any suitableforecasting technique to forecast orders.

System 10 may also include an inventory planning engine 14 thatgenerates inventory plans. An inventory plan may suggest quantities ofparts that should be available at certain locations in a supply chain atcertain times to be available to meet demand at those locations at thosetimes. Orders generate demand. For example, an order may include a backorder (i.e. an existing order to be filled at a past time but not yetfilled), a sales order (i.e. an existing order to be filled at a futuretime), or a forecasted order (i.e. an order to be filled at a futuretime that is forecasted but not yet received). Inventory planning engine14 may use demand forecasts from forecasting engine 12 to generateinventory plans. An inventory plan may also suggest quantities of partsthat should be available as safety stock at certain locations in asupply chain at certain times to be available to meet actual demandexceeding forecasted demand at those locations at those times.

System 10 may also include a replenishment planning engine 16 thatgenerates replenishment plans. A replenishment plan may suggest one ormore repair orders or procurement orders or a combination of both suchorders for meeting an inventory plan. In particular embodiments,according to a replenishment plan, serviceable parts are supplied to oneor more locations in a supply chain “on demand,” which may, but need notnecessarily, mean “just in time,” in the sense that those parts reachthose locations as late as possible to fill orders or replenish safetystock. Accordingly, in particular embodiments, repair orders forunserviceable parts may be timed so that those unserviceable parts arerepaired as late as possible to satisfy an inventory plan.

In particular embodiments, system 10 is a server system including one ormore computer systems. Engines 12, 14, and 16 may be processes that areseparate from each other and are each executed on a dedicated processor.As an alternative, engines 12, 14, and 16 may be integrated with eachother in whole or in part and may all be executed on the same processor.Engines 12, 14, and 16 may each receive input data from database 18 orelsewhere, manipulate the input data and other suitable data asappropriate, and interact with database 18 as appropriate to provideoutput data representing demand forecasts, inventory plans, andreplenishment plans. Engines 12, 14, and 16 may be fully autonomous ormay operate at least in part subject to input from users of system 10.Database 18 may provide persistent data storage for system 10 and maystore any data suitable for operation of system 10. Although the term“database” is used, memory closely associated with one or more engines12, 14, and 16 or another suitable data storage arrangement may be used.Use of the term “database” is meant to encompass all suitable datastorage arrangements. In one embodiment, database 18 is populated withdata received from one or more data sources internal, external, or bothinternal and external to an enterprise or facility associated withsystem 10.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example supply chain 30 and a repair vendor 32. Inthis example, supply chain 30 includes a global distribution center 34,two regional distribution centers 36, and four line stations 38.Although a particular supply chain 30 including particular numbers ofparticular locations is illustrated and described, the present inventioncontemplates any suitable supply chain 30 including any suitable numbersof any suitable locations. An enterprise or other boundary 40 separatesrepair vendor 32 from supply chain 30. As a result of boundary 40,repair vendor 32 operates independent of supply chain 30 and operationsat repair vendor 32 may not be controlled from within supply chain 30.As an example and not by way of limitation, in particular embodiments, afirst enterprise includes repair vendor 32, a second enterprise includessupply chain 30, and the first and second enterprises are separate fromeach other. Unserviceable parts may be sent from locations in supplychain 30 to repair vendor 32 for repair according to one or more servicecontracts between the first and second enterprises. In particularembodiments, repair vendor 32 is closely associated with a partmanufacturer. As an example and not by way of limitation, a singleenterprise may include repair vendor 32 and a part manufacturer. Repairvendor 32 may repair unserviceable parts manufactured by that partmanufacturer.

Global distribution center 34 receives serviceable parts from one ormore repair vendors 32 and distributes those parts downstream to one ormore regional distribution centers 36. Global distribution center 34 mayalso receive serviceable parts procured from one or more other vendors(such as, for example, part manufacturers) and distribute those partsdownstream to one or more regional distribution centers 36. Globaldistribution center 34 carries inventory to fill orders from regionaldistribution centers 36. For example, orders from regional distributioncenters 36 may include back orders, sales orders, and forecasted orders.Inventory at global distribution center 34 may include (1) inventory forfilling orders from regional distribution centers 36 and (2) safetystock. Safety stock includes inventory made available to fill ordersexceeding forecasted orders. As an example and not by way of limitation,at time t, global distribution center 34 may have sales orders and backorders for one hundred fifty parts that need to be shipped from globaldistribution center 34 at time t+10. In addition, system 10 may forecastat time t that global distribution center 34 will receive at time t+10orders for two hundred parts that will need to be shipped from globaldistribution center 34 at t+10. To meet the demand associated with thethese back orders, sales orders, and forecasted orders, globaldistribution center 34 may plan at time t to have three hundred fiftyparts in inventory at time t+10. Global distribution center 34 may alsoplan at time t to have a safety stock of fifty additional parts on handat time t+10 to fill orders that may be received at time t+10 in excessof these back orders, sales orders, and forecasted orders.

In particular embodiments, a demand requirement exists at globaldistribution center 34 if inventory at global distribution center 34 isinsufficient to fill orders (i.e. back orders, sales orders, andforecasted orders) from regional distribution centers 36. To satisfy thedemand requirement, serviceable parts may be moved to globaldistribution center 34 in time (or, in particular embodiments, just intime) to fill those orders. One or more of these serviceable parts maybe previously unserviceable parts moved from supply chain 30 to repairvendor 32 and repaired at repair vendor 32. In particular embodiments, areplenishment requirement exists at global distribution center 34 ifsafety stock at global distribution center 34 is below a predeterminedthreshold. To satisfy the replenishment requirement, serviceable partsmay be moved to global distribution center 34 in time (or, in particularembodiments, as soon as possible) to bring safety stock at globaldistribution center 34 back up to the predetermined threshold. One ormore of these serviceable parts may be previously unserviceable partsmoved from supply chain 30 to repair vendor 32 and repaired at repairvendor 32. As described below, demand requirements may be handleddifferently from replenishment requirements. As an example and not byway of limitation, in particular embodiments, unserviceable parts may bemoved to repair vendor 32 for repair from any location in supply chain30 to satisfy a demand requirement, whereas unserviceable parts may bemoved to repair vendor 32 for repair only from one or more certainlocations in supply chain 30 to satisfy a replenishment requirement.

A regional distribution center 36 receives serviceable parts from globaldistribution center 34 and distributes those parts downstream to one ormore line stations 38. Regional distribution center 36 carries inventoryto fill orders from line stations 38. For example, orders from linestations 38 may include back orders, sales orders, and forecastedorders. Inventory at regional distribution center 36 may include (1)inventory for filling orders from line stations 38 and (2) safety stock.In particular embodiments, a demand requirement exists at regionaldistribution center 36 if inventory at regional distribution center 36is insufficient to fill orders (i.e. back orders, sales orders, andforecasted orders) from line stations 38. To satisfy the demandrequirement, serviceable parts may be moved to regional distributioncenter 36 in time (or, in particular embodiments, as soon as possible)to fill those orders. One or more of these serviceable parts may bepreviously unserviceable parts moved from supply chain 30 to repairvendor 32 and repaired at repair vendor 32. In particular embodiments, areplenishment requirement exists at regional distribution center 36 ifsafety stock at regional distribution center 36 is below a predeterminedthreshold. To satisfy the replenishment requirement, serviceable partsmay be moved to regional distribution center 36 in time (or, inparticular embodiments, as soon as possible) to bring safety stock atregional distribution center 36 back up to the predetermined threshold.One or more of these serviceable parts may be previously unserviceableparts moved from supply chain 30 to repair vendor 32 and repaired atrepair vendor 32.

A line station 38 may receive serviceable parts from one or moreregional distribution centers 36 and distribute those parts downstreamto one or more consumers. In particular embodiments, line station 38uses serviceable parts to manufacture finished goods for distribution toconsumers. In particular embodiments, line station 38 uses serviceableparts to return equipment (such as, for example, airplanes) to service.Line station 38 may carry inventory to fill orders from consumers. Forexample, orders from consumers may include back orders, sales orders,and forecasted orders. Inventory at line station 38 may include (1)inventory for filling orders from consumers and (2) safety stock. Inparticular embodiments, a demand requirement exists at line station 38if inventory at line station 38 is insufficient to fill orders (i.e.back orders, sales orders, and forecasted orders) from consumers. Tosatisfy the demand requirement, serviceable parts may be moved to linestation 38 in time (or, in particular embodiments, as soon as possible)to fill those orders. One or more of these serviceable parts may bepreviously unserviceable parts moved from supply chain 30 to repairvendor 32 and repaired at repair vendor 32. In particular embodiments, areplenishment requirement exists at line station 38 if safety stock atline station 38 is below a predetermined threshold. To satisfy thereplenishment requirement, serviceable parts may be moved to linestation 38 in time (or, in particular embodiments, as soon as possible)to bring safety stock at regional distribution center 36 back up to thepredetermined threshold. One or more of these serviceable parts may bepreviously unserviceable parts moved from supply chain 30 to repairvendor 32 and repaired at repair vendor 32.

Serviceable parts may be moved downstream from a first location to asecond location according to a forward bill of distribution (BOD) 42. Asan example and not by way of limitation, repaired parts at repair vendor32 may be moved from repair vendor 32 to global distribution center 34according to forward BOD 42 a. Although forward BODs 42 terminating atregional distribution centers 36 are illustrated and described asoriginating only from global distribution center 34 and forward BODs 42terminating at line stations 38 are illustrated and described asoriginating only from regional distribution centers 36, the presentinvention contemplates any suitable forward BODs 42 between any suitablelocations in supply chain 30. As an example and not by way oflimitation, in particular embodiments, a regional distribution center 36may receive serviceable parts directly from repair vendor 32 accordingto a forward BOD 42 between repair vendor 32 and regional distributioncenter 36.

If a location terminates only one forward BOD 42, forward BOD 42 is aprimary forward BOD 42. As an example and not by way of limitation,because global distribution center 34 terminates only one forward BOD 42a, forward BOD 42 a is a primary forward BOD 42. As another example,because line station 38 b terminates only one forward BOD 42 e, forwardBOD 42 e is a primary forward BOD 42. If a location terminates multipleforward BODs 42, one forward BOD 42 terminating at that location is aprimary forward BOD 42. All other forward BODs 42 terminating at thatlocation are secondary forward BODs 42 f and 42 g. As an example and notby way of limitation, line station 38 c terminates two forward BODs 42 fand 42 g. Forward BOD 42 g may be a primary forward BOD 42, and forwardBOD 42 f may be a secondary forward BOD 42. A forward BOD 42 between twolocations in supply chain 30 may be designated a primary forward BOD 42according to one or more criteria. As an example and not by way oflimitation, if costs associated with moving serviceable parts fromregional distribution center 36 a to line station 38 c according toforward BOD 42 f are more than costs associated with moving serviceableparts from regional distribution center 36 b to line station 38 caccording to forward BOD 42 g, forward BOD 42 g may be designated aprimary forward BOD 42 and forward BOD 42 f may be designated asecondary forward BOD 42.

Unserviceable parts may be moved upstream from a first location to asecond location according to a reverse BOD 44. Unserviceable parts maybe moved upstream for repair. As an example and not by way oflimitation, unserviceable parts at line station 38 a may be moved fromline station 38 a to repair vendor 32 according to reverse BOD 44 a. Asanother example, unserviceable parts at line station 38 d may be movedfrom line station 38 d to regional distribution center 36 b according toreverse BOD 44 g and then from regional distribution center 36 b torepair vendor 32 according to reverse BOD 44 f. Reverse BODs 44 may beassigned lane priorities. As an example and not by way of limitation,reverse BOD 44 d may be assigned a highest lane priority; reverse BOD 44b may be assigned a next-highest lane priority after reverse BOD 44 d;reverse BOD 44 f may be assigned a next-highest lane priority afterreverse BOD 44 b; reverse BOD 44 a may be assigned a next-highest lanepriority after reverse BOD 44 f, reverse BOD 44 c may be assigned anext-highest lane priority after reverse BOD 44 a; reverse BOD 44 e maybe assigned a next-highest lane priority after reverse BOD 44 c; andreverse BODs 44 g and 44 f may collectively be assigned a lowestpriority.

Reverse BODs 44 may be assigned lane priorities according to one or morecriteria. As an example and not by way of limitation, reverse BODs 44may be assigned the above lane priorities because costs associated withmoving unserviceable parts from global distribution center 34 to repairvendor 32 according to reverse BOD 44 d may be less than costsassociated with moving unserviceable parts from any other location insupply chain 30 to repair vendor 32 according to any other reverse BOD44; costs associated with moving unserviceable parts from regionaldistribution center 36 a to repair vendor 32 according to reverse BOD 44b may be less than costs associated with moving unserviceable parts fromany other location in supply chain 30 to repair vendor 32 according toany other reverse BOD 44, except costs associated with movingunserviceable parts from global distribution center 34 to repair vendor32 according to reverse BOD 44 d; and so on. As described below, system10 may use lane priorities to determine locations from whichunserviceable parts should be moved to repair vendor 32 for repair tosatisfy a demand or replenishment requirement.

A primary network includes a series of one or more forward BODs 42connecting two or more locations. As an example and not by way oflimitation, a first primary network illustrated in FIG. 2 includesforward BODs 42 a and 42 b. This first primary network connects globaldistribution center 34 and regional distribution center 36 a. As anotherexample, a second primary network illustrated in FIG. 2 includes forwardBODs 42 a, 42 b, and 42 e. This second primary network connects globaldistribution center 34, regional distribution center 36 a, and linestation 38 b. As another example, a third primary network illustrated inFIG. 2 includes forward BODs 42 a, 42 c, and 42 g. This third primarynetwork connects global distribution center 34, regional distributioncenter 36 b, and line station 38 c. Because forward BOD 42 f is asecondary forward BOD 42, a primary network does not connect globaldistribution center 34, regional distribution center 36 a and linestation 38 c.

A location in supply chain 30 may be a staging location. A location insupply chain 30 is a staging location if that location meets all of oneor more certain conditions. In particular embodiments, a location insupply chain 30 is a staging location if (1) serviceable parts can bemoved downstream from repair vendor 32 to that location, (2) serviceableparts must traverse more than one forward BOD 42 to make their waydownstream from repair vendor 32 to that location, (3) serviceable partsneed not traverse a secondary forward BOD 42 to make their waydownstream from repair vendor 32 to that location, (4) unserviceableparts can be moved upstream from that location to repair vendor 32, and(5) unserviceable parts need not traverse more than one reverse BOD 44to make their way upstream from that location to repair vendor 32. Inthese embodiments, if a location in supply chain 30 fails to meet one ormore of these conditions, that location is not a staging location. As anexample and not by way of limitation, because serviceable parts need nottraverse more than one forward BOD 42 to make their way from repairvendor 32 to global distribution center 34, global distribution center34 is not a staging location. Because serviceable parts must traversemore than one reverse BOD 44 to make their way upstream from linestation 38 d to repair vendor 32, line station 38 d is not a staginglocation. Because regional distribution centers 36 a and 36 b and linestations 38 a, 38 b, and 38 c each meet the five conditions above,regional distribution centers 36 a and 36 b and line stations 38 a, 38b, and 38 c are each staging locations.

A location in supply chain 30 may be a controlling location. A locationin supply chain 30 is a controlling location if that location meets oneor more certain conditions. In particular embodiments, a location insupply chain 30 is a controlling location if (1) serviceable parts canbe moved downstream from repair vendor 32 to that location and (2)serviceable parts need not traverse more than one forward BOD 42 to maketheir way downstream from repair vendor 32 to that location. In theseembodiments, if a location in supply chain 30 fails to meet one or moreof these conditions, that location is not a controlling location. As anexample and not by way of limitation, because serviceable parts can bemoved downstream from repair vendor 32 to global distribution center 34and need only traverse forward BOD 42 a to make their way from repairvendor 32 to global distribution center 34, global distribution center34 is a controlling location. As another example, because serviceableparts must traverse more than one forward BOD 42 to make their way fromrepair vendor 32 to line station 38 d, line station 38 d is not acontrolling station.

System 10 may generate one or more repair orders in response to a demandrequirement at a location in supply chain 30. An inventory plan mayindicate one or more demand requirements. In particular embodiments,system 10 may generate the repair orders according to the followingrules. If a quantity of unserviceable parts at that location isavailable to satisfy the demand requirement, unserviceable partsavailable to satisfy the demand requirement should be moved from thatlocation to repair vendor 32 for repair. If the quantity ofunserviceable parts at that location available to satisfy the demandrequirement is insufficient to fully satisfy the demand requirement,unserviceable parts available to satisfy the demand requirement shouldbe moved from other locations in supply chain 30 to repair vendor 32 forrepair. Unserviceable parts are to be moved from those other locationsto repair vendor 32 according to lane priority. If the aggregatequantity of unserviceable parts at all these locations available tosatisfy the demand requirement is insufficient to fully satisfy thedemand requirement, serviceable parts needed to satisfy the demandrequirement may be procured from one or more vendors outside supplychain 30 according to vendor priority. In particular embodiments,serviceable parts may be procured from more than one vendor outsidesupply chain 30 to satisfy the demand requirement.

As an example and not by way of limitation, assume regional distributioncenter 36 a has a demand requirement of twenty parts and has elevenunserviceable parts on hand, global distribution center 34 has fiveunserviceable parts on hand, and regional distribution center 36 b hasthirty unserviceable parts on hand. Reverse BOD 44 d has a highest lanepriority, reverse BOD 44 b has a second highest lane priority, andreverse BOD 44 f has a third highest lane priority. In response to thedemand requirement at regional distribution center 36 a, system 10generates three repair orders. According to the three repair orders, theeleven unserviceable parts at regional distribution center 36 a, thefive unserviceable parts at global distribution center 34, and four ofthe thirty unserviceable parts at regional distribution center 36 b areto be moved to repair vendor 32 for repair and then moved from repairvendor 32 to regional distribution center 36 a to satisfy the demandrequirement.

System 10 may generate one or more repair orders in response to areplenishment requirement at a location in supply chain 30. An inventoryplan may indicate one or more replenishment requirements. System 10 maygenerate the repair orders according to the following rules.

If the location at which the replenishment requirement exists is acontrolling location, a first set of rules applies. In particularembodiments, according to the first set of rules, if a quantity ofunserviceable parts at the controlling location is available to satisfythe replenishment requirement, unserviceable parts available to satisfythe replenishment requirement should be moved from that controllinglocation to repair vendor 32 for repair. If the quantity ofunserviceable parts at that controlling location available to satisfythe replenishment requirement is insufficient to fully satisfy thereplenishment requirement, unserviceable parts available to satisfy thereplenishment requirement should be moved from one or more staginglocations to repair vendor 32 for repair. Unserviceable parts are to bemoved from those staging locations to repair vendor 32 according to lanepriority. Unserviceable parts may be moved from a staging location onlyif a primary network connects that staging location to the controllinglocation. If an aggregate quantity of unserviceable parts at thecontrolling location and at these staging locations available to satisfythe replenishment requirement is insufficient to fully satisfy thereplenishment requirement, serviceable parts needed to satisfy thereplenishment requirement may be procured from a highest-priority vendoroutside supply chain 30. In particular embodiments, serviceable partsmay not be procured from more than one vendor outside supply chain 30 tosatisfy the replenishment requirement.

If the location at which the replenishment requirement exists is astaging location, a second set of rules applies. In particularembodiments, according to the second set of rules, if a quantity ofunserviceable parts at the staging location is available to satisfy thereplenishment requirement, unserviceable parts available to satisfy thereplenishment requirement should be moved from that staging location torepair vendor 32 for repair. If the quantity of unserviceable parts atthat staging location available to satisfy the replenishment requirementis insufficient to fully satisfy the replenishment requirement,unserviceable parts available to satisfy the replenishment requirementshould be moved from one or more other locations in supply chain 30 torepair vendor 32 for repair. Unserviceable parts are to be moved fromthose other locations in supply chain 30 to repair vendor 32 accordingto lane priority. Unserviceable parts may be moved from another locationin supply chain 30 only if a primary network connects that otherlocation to the staging location. If an aggregate quantity ofunserviceable parts at the staging location and at these other locationsavailable to satisfy the replenishment requirement is insufficient tofully satisfy the replenishment requirement, serviceable parts needed tosatisfy the replenishment requirement may be procured from ahighest-priority vendor outside supply chain 30. In particularembodiments, serviceable parts may not be procured from more than onevendor outside supply chain 30 to satisfy the replenishment requirement.

As an example and not by way of limitation, assume global distributioncenter 34 has a replenishment requirement of twenty parts and has elevenunserviceable parts on hand, regional distribution center 36 a has fiveunserviceable parts on hand, and regional distribution center 36 b hasthirty unserviceable parts on hand. Reverse BOD 44 d has a highest lanepriority, reverse BOD 44 b has a second highest lane priority, andreverse BOD 44 f has a third highest lane priority. Global distributioncenter 34 is a controlling location. Regional distribution centers 36 aand 36 b and line stations 38 a, 38 b, and 38 c are all staginglocations and are each connected to global distribution center 34 by aprimary network. Accordingly, unserviceable parts may be moved from oneor more of regional distribution centers 36 a and 36 b and line stations38 a, 38 b, and 38 c to repair vendor 32 for repair to satisfy thereplenishment requirement. In response to the replenishment requirement,system 10 generates three repair orders. According to the repair orders,the eleven unserviceable parts at global distribution center 34, thefive unserviceable parts at regional distribution center 36 a, and fourof the thirty unserviceable parts at regional distribution center 36 bare to be moved to repair vendor 32 for repair and then moved fromrepair vendor 32 to global distribution center 34 to satisfy thereplenishment requirement.

As another non-limiting example, assume regional distribution center 36a has a replenishment requirement of twenty parts and has elevenunserviceable parts on hand, global distribution center 34 has fiveunserviceable parts on hand, and line station 38 b has thirtyunserviceable parts on hand. Reverse BOD 44 d has a highest lanepriority, reverse BOD 44 b has a second highest lane priority, andreverse BOD 44 c has a third highest lane priority. Global distributioncenter 34 is a controlling location. Regional distribution centers 36 aand 36 b and line stations 38 a, 38 b, and 38 c are all staginglocations. Global distribution center 34 and line stations 38 a and 38 bare each connected to regional distribution center 36 a by a primarynetwork. Accordingly, unserviceable parts may be moved from one or moreof global distribution center 34 and line stations 38 a and 38 b torepair vendor 32 for repair to satisfy the replenishment requirement. Inresponse to the replenishment requirement, system 10 generates threerepair orders. According to the three repair orders, the elevenunserviceable parts at regional distribution center 36 a, the fiveunserviceable parts at global distribution center 34, and four of thethirty unserviceable parts at line station 38 b are to be moved torepair vendor 32 for repair and then moved from repair vendor 32 toregional distribution center 36 a to satisfy the replenishmentrequirement.

A repair order for one or more unserviceable parts may take intoconsideration one or more lead times associated with those unserviceableparts. As an example and not by way of limitation, an unserviceable partat a first location in supply chain 30 is not available to satisfy ademand requirement unless there is enough time to move the part from thefirst location to repair vendor 32, repair the part at repair vendor 32,and move the part from repair vendor 32 to a second locationcorresponding to the demand requirement. As another example, anunserviceable part at a first location in supply chain 30 is notavailable to satisfy a replenishment requirement unless there is enoughtime to move the part from the first location to repair vendor 32,repair the part at repair vendor 32, and move the part from repairvendor 32 to a second location corresponding to the demand requirement.

Although in particular embodiments system 10 may generate repair ordersbased on both demand requirements and replenishment requirements andsystem 10 may differentiate between demand requirements andreplenishments requirements, in other embodiments system 10 may generaterepair orders only based on demand requirements or may apply the presentinvention only in connection with demand requirements. Similarly, inother embodiments system 10 may generate repair orders only based onreplenishment requirements or may apply the present invention only inconnection with replenishment requirements. In still other embodiments,system 10 may generate repair orders without differentiating betweendemand requirements and replenishment requirements (e.g., treating allrequirements for serviceable parts as being of the same type andperforming the same operations according to the same rules for all suchrequirements).

Although it is desirable in particular embodiments to generate repairorders based in part on identification of and differentiation betweencontrolling locations and staging locations, in other embodiments system10 may generate repair orders without any such identification ordifferentiation. In such embodiments, to meet a demand requirement orreplenishment requirement at a first location in supply chain 30, system10 may generate one or more repair orders according to whichunserviceable parts are moved from the first location or one or moresecond locations in supply chain 30 to repair vendor 32 for repairwithout determining whether any of the first location and the one ormore second locations are controlling locations or staging locations.

Although system 10 is illustrated and described as generating repairorders according to whether locations in supply chain 30 are controllinglocations or staging locations, identification and differentiationbetween controlling locations and staging locations is not limited tothe repair planning. Such identification and differentiation may bedesirable in connection with any suitable planning for supply chain 30.As an example and not by way of limitation, in particular embodiments,system 10 may generate a plan for moving serviceable parts from one ormore first locations in supply chain 30 to one or more second locationsin supply chain 30 for use at the one or more second locations in supplychain 30 according to whether the first locations and second locationsare controlling locations or staging locations.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example table 50 of one or more controllinglocations and staging locations in supply chain 30. System 10 may accessinformation representing supply chain 30 and generate table 50 usingthat information. Table 50 may be stored in database 18. To generatetable 50, system 10 may determine whether each location in supply chain30 is a controlling location or a staging location and assign thelocation to either controlling column 52 a or staging column 52 b.Although a particular table 50 containing particular informationregarding controlling locations and staging locations in supply chain 30is illustrated and described, the present invention contemplates anysuitable table 50 or other data arrangement containing any suitableinformation regarding controlling locations and staging locations insupply chain 30. System 10 may use the rules described above todetermine whether a location is a controlling location or a staginglocation. After system 10 has generated table 50, system 10 may accesstable 50 as needed to determine whether one or more locations in supplychain 30 are controlling locations or staging locations in connectionwith generating repair orders or other planning for supply chain 30, asdescribed above. System 10 may update table 50 as changes are made tosupply chain 30, according to particular needs.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method for incorporating a repair vendor32 into repair planning for supply chain 30. The method begins at step100, where a demand requirement arises at a location (“demand location”)in supply chain 30. At step 102, in response to the demand requirement,system 10 determines whether one or more unserviceable parts areavailable at the demand location to satisfy the demand requirement. Ifone or more unserviceable parts are available at the demand location tosatisfy the demand requirement, the method proceeds to step 104. At step104, system 10 generates one or more repair orders for one or moreunserviceable parts at the demand location. As described above,according to the repair orders, the unserviceable parts are to be movedfrom the demand location to repair vendor 32, repaired at repair vendor32, and moved from repair vendor 32 to the demand location. Inparticular embodiments, it is not necessary to move the unserviceableparts to repair vendor 32. In at least some of these embodiments, if atall possible, the unserviceable parts are repaired at the demandlocation instead of being moved to repair vendor 32 for repair. At step106, system 10 determines whether those repair orders are sufficient tosatisfy the demand requirement. If the repair orders are sufficient tosatisfy the demand requirement, the method ends. If the repair ordersare not sufficient to satisfy the demand requirement, the methodproceeds to step 108. Returning to step 102, if one or moreunserviceable parts are not available at the demand location to satisfythe demand requirement, the method proceeds to step 108.

At step 108, system 10 determines whether one or more unserviceableparts are available at one or more locations in supply chain 30 otherthan the demand location to satisfy the demand requirement. If one ormore unserviceable parts are available at one or more other locations tosatisfy the demand requirement, the method proceeds to step 110. At step110, system 10 generates one or more repair orders for one or moreunserviceable parts at one or more other locations. As described above,according to the repair orders, those unserviceable parts are to bemoved from those other locations to repair vendor 32, repaired at repairvendor 32, and moved from repair vendor 32 to the demand location. Atstep 112, system 10 determines whether those repair orders aresufficient to satisfy the demand requirement. If the repair orders aresufficient to satisfy the demand requirement, the method ends. If therepair orders are not sufficient to satisfy the demand requirement, themethod proceeds to step 114. At step 114, system 10 generates one ormore procurement orders according to which serviceable parts are to beprocured to satisfy the demand requirement, and the method ends.Returning to step 108, if one or more unserviceable parts are notavailable at one or more other locations in supply chain 30 to satisfythe demand requirement, the method proceeds to step 114. Although thesteps of the method illustrated in FIG. 4 are illustrated and describedas occurring in a particular order, the present invention contemplatesany suitable steps of the method illustrated in FIG. 4 occurring in anysuitable order.

FIG. 5 illustrates another example method for incorporating a repairvendor 32 into repair planning for supply chain 30. The method begins atstep 200, where a replenishment requirement arises at a location(“replenishment location”) in supply chain 30. At step 202, in responseto the replenishment requirement, system 10 determines whether one ormore unserviceable parts are available at the replenishment location tosatisfy the replenishment requirement. If one or more unserviceableparts are available at the replenishment location to satisfy thereplenishment requirement, the method proceeds to step 204. At step 204,system 10 generates one or more repair orders for one or moreunserviceable parts at the replenishment location. As described above,according to the repair orders, the unserviceable parts are to be movedfrom the replenishment location to repair vendor 32, repaired at repairvendor 32, and moved from repair vendor 32 to the replenishmentlocation. At step 206, system 10 determines whether those repair ordersare sufficient to satisfy the replenishment requirement. If the repairorders are sufficient to satisfy the replenishment requirement, themethod ends. If the repair orders are not sufficient to satisfy thereplenishment requirement, the method proceeds to step 208. Returning tostep 202, if one or more unserviceable parts are not available at thereplenishment location to satisfy the replenishment requirement, themethod proceeds to step 208.

At step 208, system 10 determines whether the replenishment location isa controlling location. If the replenishment location is a controllinglocation, the method proceeds to step 210. At step 210, system 10determines whether one or more unserviceable parts are available at oneor more staging locations connected to the replenishment location by oneor more primary networks to satisfy the replenishment requirement. Ifone or more unserviceable parts are available at one or more staginglocations connected to the replenishment location by one or more primarynetworks to satisfy the replenishment requirement, the method proceedsto step 212. At step 212, system 10 generates one or more repair ordersfor one or more unserviceable parts at one or more of those staginglocations. As described above, according to the repair orders,unserviceable parts are to be moved from those staging locations torepair vendor 32, repaired at repair vendor 32, and moved from repairvendor 32 to the replenishment location. At step 214, system 10determines whether those repair orders are sufficient to satisfy thereplenishment requirement. If the repair orders are sufficient tosatisfy the replenishment requirement, the method ends. If the repairorders are not sufficient to satisfy the replenishment requirement, themethod proceeds to step 216. At step 216, system 10 generates aprocurement order to satisfy the replenishment requirement. As describedabove, in particular embodiments, serviceable parts may not be procuredfrom more than one vendor to satisfy the replenishment requirement, evenif that one vendor cannot fully satisfy the replenishment requirement.Returning to step 210, if one or more unserviceable parts are notavailable at one or more staging locations connected to thereplenishment location by one or more primary networks to satisfy thereplenishment requirement, the method proceeds to step 216. Returning tostep 208, if the replenishment location is not a controlling location,the method proceeds to step 218. At step 218, system 10 generates placesan order at a location in supply chain 30 immediately upstream from thereplenishment location. The method then returns to step 202, wheresystem 10 determines whether one or more unserviceable parts areavailable at the upstream location to satisfy the replenishmentrequirement at the replenishment location. The method iterativelyproceeds through steps 202-208 and 218 until a controlling location isreached, at which point the method proceeds to step 210, as describedabove. Although the steps of the method illustrated in FIG. 5 areillustrated and described as occurring in a particular order, thepresent invention contemplates any suitable steps of the methodillustrated in FIG. 5 occurring in any suitable order.

Although the present invention has been described with severalembodiments, myriad changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, andmodifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art, and it isintended that the invention encompass all such changes, substitutions,variations, alterations, and modifications as fall within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

1. A computer-implemented system for incorporating a repair vendor intorepair planning for a supply chain, the repair vendor being outside thesupply chain and substantially independent of control from the supplychain, unserviceable parts being moved from the supply chain to therepair vendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved back to thesupply chain, the system comprising one or more memory units and one ormore processing units collectively operable to: access a logicalrepresentation of the supply chain; identify one or more controllinglocations and one or more staging locations in the supply chain, acontrolling location comprising a location in the supply chain fromwhich unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendor and towhich serviceable parts are moved directly from the repair vendor, astaging location comprising a location in the supply chain from whichunserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendor and to whichserviceable parts are moved from the repair vendor through a controllinglocation; access information indicating a replenishment requirement at aparticular identified controlling location, the replenishmentrequirement resulting from safety stock at the particular identifiedcontrolling location dropping below a predetermined threshold; and inresponse to the information indicating the replenishment requirement atthe particular identified controlling location: identify every primarynetwork in the supply chain connecting the particular identifiedcontrolling location to one or more identified staging locations, aprimary network comprising a series of one or more forward bills ofdistribution (BODs) that have been designated primary forward BODsaccording to one or more criteria; select one or more of: the particularidentified controlling location; and one or more identified staginglocations each connected to the particular identified controllinglocation by a primary network; and generate one or more repair ordersaccording to which one or more unserviceable parts are to be moved fromthe selected locations to the repair vendor, repaired at the repairvendor, and moved from the repair vendor to the particular identifiedcontrolling location to meet the replenishment requirement at theparticular identified controlling location.
 2. The system of claim 1,further operable to: access information indicating a demand requirementat the particular identified controlling location in the supply chain;and in response to the information indicating the demand requirement atthe particular identified controlling location: without identifying anyprimary networks in the supply chain connecting the particularidentified controlling location to one or more identified staginglocations, select one or more of: the particular identified controllinglocation; one or more other identified controlling locations; and one ormore identified staging locations; and generate one or more repairorders according to which one or more unserviceable parts are to bemoved from the selected locations to the repair vendor, repaired at therepair vendor, and moved from the repair vendor to the particularidentified controlling location to meet the demand requirement at theparticular identified controlling location.
 3. The system of claim 1,wherein criteria for designating a forward BOD a primary forward BODcomprise one or more of: whether the forward BOD is an only forward BODbetween two locations in the supply chain; and one or more costsassociated with moving parts according to the forward BOD.
 4. The systemof claim 1, further operable, if an aggregate quantity of unserviceableparts at the particular identified controlling location and the one ormore identified staging locations each connected to the particularidentified controlling location by a primary network available to meetthe replenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation is insufficient to fully satisfy the replenishment requirementat the particular identified controlling location, to indicate a need toprocure one or more serviceable parts from a vendor outside the supplychain to meet the replenishment requirement at the particular identifiedcontrolling location.
 5. The system of claim 4, further operable toindicate that serviceable parts are to be procured from only one vendor,even if a quantity of serviceable parts at the one vendor available tomeet the replenishment requirement at the particular identifiedcontrolling location is insufficient to fully satisfy the replenishmentrequirement at the particular identified controlling location.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, further operable to select one or more of theidentified staging locations each connected to the particular identifiedcontrolling location by a primary network only if a quantity ofunserviceable parts at the particular identified controlling locationavailable to meet the replenishment requirement at the particularidentified controlling location is insufficient to fully satisfy thereplenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation.
 7. The system of claim 1, further operable to select one ormore identified staging locations each connected to the particularidentified controlling location by a primary network according to laneprioritization among reverse BODs connecting the repair vendor to theidentified staging locations each connected to the particular identifiedcontrolling location by a primary network.
 8. The system of claim 1,comprising a service parts planning system.
 9. The system of claim 1,operable to access a table of controlling locations and staginglocations in the supply chain to identify one or more controllinglocations and one or more staging locations in the supply chain.
 10. Acomputer-implemented system for incorporating a repair vendor intorepair planning for a supply chain, the repair vendor being outside thesupply chain and substantially independent of control from the supplychain, unserviceable parts being moved from the supply chain to therepair vendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved back to thesupply chain, the system comprising one or more memory units and one ormore processing units collectively operable to: access a logicalrepresentation of the supply chain; identify one or more controllinglocations and one or more staging locations in the supply chain, acontrolling location comprising a location in the supply chain fromwhich unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendor and towhich serviceable parts are moved directly from the repair vendor, astaging location comprising a location in the supply chain from whichunserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendor and to whichserviceable parts are moved from the repair vendor through a controllinglocation; access information indicating a replenishment requirement at afirst identified staging location in the supply chain, the replenishmentrequirement resulting from safety stock at the first identified staginglocation dropping below a predetermined threshold; and in response tothe information indicating the replenishment requirement at the firstidentified staging location: identify every primary network in thesupply chain connecting the first identified staging location to anidentified controlling location or one or more second identified staginglocations, a primary network comprising a series of one or more forwardbills of distribution (BODs) that have been designated primary forwardBODs according to one or more criteria; select one or more of: the firstidentified staging location; the identified controlling locationconnected to the first identified staging location by a primary network;and one or more second identified staging locations; and generate one ormore repair orders according to which one or more unserviceable partsare to be moved from the selected locations to the repair vendor,repaired at the repair vendor, and moved from the repair vendor to thefirst identified staging location to meet the replenishment requirementat the first identified staging location.
 11. The system of claim 10,further operable to: access information indicating a demand requirementat the first identified staging location in the supply chain; and inresponse to the information indicating the demand requirement at thefirst identified staging location in the supply chain: withoutidentifying any primary networks in the supply chain connecting thefirst identified staging location to an identified controlling locationor one or more second identified staging locations, select one or moreof: the first identified staging location; the identified controllinglocations; and the identified staging locations; and generate one ormore repair orders according to which one or more unserviceable partsare to be moved from the selected locations to the repair vendor,repaired at the repair vendor, and moved from the repair vendor to thefirst identified staging location to meet the demand requirement at thefirst identified staging location.
 12. The system of claim 10, whereincriteria for designating a forward BOD a primary forward BOD compriseone or more of: whether the forward BOD is an only forward BOD betweentwo locations in the supply chain; and one or more costs associated withmoving parts according to the forward BOD.
 13. The system of claim 10,further operable, if an aggregate quantity of unserviceable parts at thefirst identified staging location, the identified controlling locationconnected to the first identified staging location by a primary network,and the one or more second identified staging locations each connectedto the first identified staging location by a primary network availableto meet the replenishment requirement at the first identified staginglocation is insufficient to fully satisfy the replenishment requirementat the first identified staging location, to indicate a need to procureone or more serviceable parts from a vendor outside the supply chain tomeet the replenishment requirement at the first identified staginglocation.
 14. The system of claim 13, further operable to indicate thatserviceable parts are to be procured from only one vendor, even if aquantity of serviceable parts at the one vendor available to meet thereplenishment requirement at the first identified staging location isinsufficient to fully satisfy the replenishment requirement at the firstidentified staging location.
 15. The system of claim 10, furtheroperable to select one or more of the identified controlling locationconnected to the first identified staging location by a primary networkand the one or more second identified staging locations each connectedto the first identified staging location by a primary network only if aquantity of unserviceable parts at the first identified staging locationavailable to meet the replenishment requirement at the first identifiedstaging location is insufficient to fully satisfy the replenishmentrequirement at the first identified staging location.
 16. The system ofclaim 10, further operable to select one or more of the identifiedcontrolling location connected to the first identified staging locationby a primary network and the one or more identified second staginglocations each connected to the first identified staging location by aprimary network according to lane prioritization among reverse BODsconnecting the repair vendor to the identified controlling locationconnected to the first identified staging location by a primary networkand the identified second staging locations each connected to the firstidentified staging location by a primary network.
 17. The system ofclaim 10, comprising a service parts planning system.
 18. The system ofclaim 10, operable to access a table of controlling locations andstaging locations in the supply chain to identify one or morecontrolling locations and one or more staging locations in the supplychain.
 19. A computer-implemented method for incorporating a repairvendor into repair planning for a supply chain, the repair vendor beingoutside the supply chain and substantially independent of control fromthe supply chain, unserviceable parts being moved from the supply chainto the repair vendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved back tothe supply chain, the method comprising: accessing a logicalrepresentation of the supply chain; identifying one or more controllinglocations and one or more staging locations in the supply chain, acontrolling location comprising a location in the supply chain fromwhich unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendor and towhich serviceable parts are moved directly from the repair vendor, astaging location comprising a location in the supply chain from whichunserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendor and to whichserviceable parts are moved from the repair vendor through a controllinglocation; accessing information indicating a replenishment requirementat a particular identified controlling location, the replenishmentrequirement resulting from safety stock at the particular identifiedcontrolling location dropping below a predetermined threshold; and inresponse to the information indicating the replenishment requirement atthe particular identified controlling location: identifying everyprimary network in the supply chain connecting the particular identifiedcontrolling location to one or more identified staging locations, aprimary network comprising a series of one or more forward bills ofdistribution (BODs) that have been designated primary forward BODsaccording to one or more criteria; selecting one or more of: theparticular identified controlling location; and one or more identifiedstaging locations each connected to the particular identifiedcontrolling location by a primary network; and generating one or morerepair orders according to which one or more unserviceable parts are tobe moved from the selected locations to the repair vendor, repaired atthe repair vendor, and moved from the repair vendor to the particularidentified controlling location to meet the replenishment requirement atthe particular identified controlling location.
 20. The method of claim19, further comprising: accessing information indicating a demandrequirement at the particular identified controlling location in thesupply chain; and in response to the information indicating the demandrequirement at the particular identified controlling location: withoutidentifying any primary networks in the supply chain connecting theparticular identified controlling location to one or more identifiedstaging locations, selecting one or more of: the particular identifiedcontrolling location; one or more other identified controllinglocations; and one or more identified staging locations; and generatingone or more repair orders according to which one or more unserviceableparts are to be moved from the selected locations to the repair vendor,repaired at the repair vendor, and moved from the repair vendor to theparticular identified controlling location to meet the demandrequirement at the particular identified controlling location.
 21. Themethod of claim 19, wherein criteria for designating a forward BOD aprimary forward BOD comprise one or more of: whether the forward BOD isan only forward BOD between two locations in the supply chain; and oneor more costs associated with moving parts according to the forward BOD.22. The method of claim 19, further comprising, if an aggregate quantityof unserviceable parts at the particular identified controlling locationand the one or more identified staging locations each connected to theparticular identified controlling location by a primary networkavailable to meet the replenishment requirement at the particularidentified controlling location is insufficient to fully satisfy thereplenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation, indicating a need to procure one or more serviceable partsfrom a vendor outside the supply chain to meet the replenishmentrequirement at the particular identified controlling location.
 23. Themethod of claim 22, further comprising indicating that serviceable partsare to be procured from only one vendor, even if a quantity ofserviceable parts at the one vendor available to meet the replenishmentrequirement at the particular identified controlling location isinsufficient to fully satisfy the replenishment requirement at theparticular identified controlling location.
 24. The method of claim 19,further comprising selecting one or more of the identified staginglocations each connected to the particular identified controllinglocation by a primary network only if a quantity of unserviceable partsat the particular identified controlling location available to meet thereplenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation is insufficient to fully satisfy the replenishment requirementat the particular identified controlling location.
 25. The method ofclaim 19, further selecting one or more identified staging locationseach connected to the particular identified controlling location by aprimary network according to lane prioritization among reverse BODsconnecting the repair vendor to the identified staging locations eachconnected to the particular identified controlling location by a primarynetwork.
 26. The method of claim 19, executed by a service partsplanning system.
 27. The method of claim 19, comprising accessing atable of controlling locations and staging locations in the supply chainto identify one or more controlling locations and one or more staginglocations in the supply chain.
 28. A computer-implemented method forincorporating a repair vendor into repair planning for a supply chain,the repair vendor being outside the supply chain and substantiallyindependent of control from the supply chain, unserviceable parts beingmoved from the supply chain to the repair vendor, repaired at the repairvendor, and moved back to the supply chain, the method comprising:accessing a logical representation of the supply chain; identifying oneor more controlling locations and one or more staging locations in thesupply chain, a controlling location comprising a location in the supplychain from which unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repairvendor and to which serviceable parts are moved directly from the repairvendor, a staging location comprising a location in the supply chainfrom which unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendorand to which serviceable parts are moved from the repair vendor througha controlling location; accessing information indicating a replenishmentrequirement at a first identified staging location in the supply chain,the replenishment requirement resulting from safety stock at the firstidentified staging location dropping below a predetermined threshold;and in response to the information indicating the replenishmentrequirement at the first identified staging location: identifying everyprimary network in the supply chain connecting the first identifiedstaging location to an identified controlling location or one or moresecond identified staging locations, a primary network comprising aseries of one or more forward bills of distribution (BODs) that havebeen designated primary forward BODs according to one or more criteria;selecting one or more of: the first identified staging location; theidentified controlling location connected to the first identifiedstaging location by a primary network; and one or more second identifiedstaging locations; and generating one or more repair orders according towhich one or more unserviceable parts are to be moved from the selectedlocations to the repair vendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and movedfrom the repair vendor to the first identified staging location to meetthe replenishment requirement at the first identified staging location.29. The method of claim 28, further comprising: accessing informationindicating a demand requirement at the first identified staging locationin the supply chain; and in response to the information indicating thedemand requirement at the first identified staging location in thesupply chain: without identifying any primary networks in the supplychain connecting the first identified staging location to an identifiedcontrolling location or one or more second identified staging locations,selecting one or more of: the first identified staging location; theidentified controlling locations; and the identified staging locations;and generating one or more repair orders according to which one or moreunserviceable parts are to be moved from the selected locations to therepair vendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved from the repairvendor to the first identified staging location to meet the demandrequirement at the first identified staging location.
 30. The method ofclaim 28, wherein criteria for designating a forward BOD a primaryforward BOD comprise one or more of: whether the forward BOD is an onlyforward BOD between two locations in the supply chain; and one or morecosts associated with moving parts according to the forward BOD.
 31. Themethod of claim 28, further comprising, if an aggregate quantity ofunserviceable parts at the first identified staging location, theidentified controlling location connected to the first identifiedstaging location by a primary network, and the one or more secondidentified staging locations each connected to the first identifiedstaging location by a primary network available to meet thereplenishment requirement at the first identified staging location isinsufficient to fully satisfy the replenishment requirement at the firstidentified staging location, indicating a need to procure one or moreserviceable parts from a vendor outside the supply chain to meet thereplenishment requirement at the first identified staging location. 32.The method of claim 31, further comprising indicating that serviceableparts are to be procured from only one vendor, even if a quantity ofserviceable parts at the one vendor available to meet the replenishmentrequirement at the first identified staging location is insufficient tofully satisfy the replenishment requirement at the first identifiedstaging location.
 33. The method of claim 28, further comprisingselecting one or more of the identified controlling location connectedto the first identified staging location by a primary network and theone or more second identified staging locations each connected to thefirst identified staging location by a primary network only if aquantity of unserviceable parts at the first identified staging locationavailable to meet the replenishment requirement at the first identifiedstaging location is insufficient to fully satisfy the replenishmentrequirement at the first identified staging location.
 34. The method ofclaim 28, further comprising selecting one or more of the identifiedcontrolling location connected to the first identified staging locationby a primary network and the one or more identified second staginglocations each connected to the first identified staging location by aprimary network according to lane prioritization among reverse BODsconnecting the repair vendor to the identified controlling locationconnected to the first identified staging location by a primary networkand the identified second staging locations each connected to the firstidentified staging location by a primary network.
 35. The method ofclaim 28, executed by a service parts planning system.
 36. The method ofclaim 28, comprising accessing a table of controlling locations andstaging locations in the supply chain to identify one or morecontrolling locations and one or more staging locations in the supplychain.
 37. Software for incorporating a repair vendor into repairplanning for a supply chain, the repair vendor being outside the supplychain and substantially independent of control from the supply chain,unserviceable parts being moved from the supply chain to the repairvendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved back to the supplychain, the software embodied in computer-readable media and whenexecuted operable to: access a logical representation of the supplychain; identify one or more controlling locations and one or morestaging locations in the supply chain, a controlling location comprisinga location in the supply chain from which unserviceable parts are moveddirectly to the repair vendor and to which serviceable parts are moveddirectly from the repair vendor, a staging location comprising alocation in the supply chain from which unserviceable parts are moveddirectly to the repair vendor and to which serviceable parts are movedfrom the repair vendor through a controlling location; accessinformation indicating a replenishment requirement at a particularidentified controlling location, the replenishment requirement resultingfrom safety stock at the particular identified controlling locationdropping below a predetermined threshold; and in response to theinformation indicating the replenishment requirement at the particularidentified controlling location: identify every primary network in thesupply chain connecting the particular identified controlling locationto one or more identified staging locations, a primary networkcomprising a series of one or more forward bills of distribution (BODs)that have been designated primary forward BODs according to one or morecriteria; select one or more of: the particular identified controllinglocation; and one or more identified staging locations each connected tothe particular identified controlling location by a primary network; andgenerate one or more repair orders according to which one or moreunserviceable parts are to be moved from the selected locations to therepair vendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved from the repairvendor to the particular identified controlling location to meet thereplenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation.
 38. The software of claim 37, further operable to: accessinformation indicating a demand requirement at the particular identifiedcontrolling location in the supply chain; and in response to theinformation indicating the demand requirement at the particularidentified controlling location: without identifying any primarynetworks in the supply chain connecting the particular identifiedcontrolling location to one or more identified staging locations, selectone or more of: the particular identified controlling location; one ormore other identified controlling locations; and one or more identifiedstaging locations; and generate one or more repair orders according towhich one or more unserviceable parts are to be moved from the selectedlocations to the repair vendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and movedfrom the repair vendor to the particular identified controlling locationto meet the demand requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation.
 39. The software of claim 37, wherein criteria for designatinga forward BOD a primary forward BOD comprise one or more of: whether theforward BOD is an only forward BOD between two locations in the supplychain; and one or more costs associated with moving parts according tothe forward BOD.
 40. The software of claim 37, further operable, if anaggregate quantity of unserviceable parts at the particular identifiedcontrolling location and the one or more identified staging locationseach connected to the particular identified controlling location by aprimary network available to meet the replenishment requirement at theparticular identified controlling location is insufficient to fullysatisfy the replenishment requirement at the particular identifiedcontrolling location, to indicate a need to procure one or moreserviceable parts from a vendor outside the supply chain to meet thereplenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation.
 41. The software of claim 40, further operable to indicatethat serviceable parts are to be procured from only one vendor, even ifa quantity of serviceable parts at the one vendor available to meet thereplenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation is insufficient to fully satisfy the replenishment requirementat the particular identified controlling location.
 42. The software ofclaim 37, further operable to select one or more of the identifiedstaging locations each connected to the particular identifiedcontrolling location by a primary network only if a quantity ofunserviceable parts at the particular identified controlling locationavailable to meet the replenishment requirement at the particularidentified controlling location is insufficient to fully satisfy thereplenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation.
 43. The software of claim 37, further operable to select oneor more identified staging locations each connected to the particularidentified controlling location by a primary network according to laneprioritization among reverse BODs connecting the repair vendor to theidentified staging locations each connected to the particular identifiedcontrolling location by a primary network.
 44. The software of claim 37,executed by a service parts planning system.
 45. The software of claim37, operable to access a table of controlling locations and staginglocations in the supply chain to identify one or more controllinglocations and one or more staging locations in the supply chain. 46.Software for incorporating a repair vendor into repair planning for asupply chain, the repair vendor being outside the supply chain andsubstantially independent of control from the supply chain,unserviceable parts being moved from the supply chain to the repairvendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved back to the supplychain, the software embodied in computer-readable media and whenexecuted operable to: access a logical representation of the supplychain; identify one or more controlling locations and one or morestaging locations in the supply chain, a controlling location comprisinga location in the supply chain from which unserviceable parts are moveddirectly to the repair vendor and to which serviceable parts are moveddirectly from the repair vendor, a staging location comprising alocation in the supply chain from which unserviceable parts are moveddirectly to the repair vendor and to which serviceable parts are movedfrom the repair vendor through a controlling location; accessinformation indicating a replenishment requirement at a first identifiedstaging location in the supply chain, the replenishment requirementresulting from safety stock at the first identified staging locationdropping below a predetermined threshold; and in response to theinformation indicating the replenishment requirement at the firstidentified staging location: identify every primary network in thesupply chain connecting the first identified staging location to anidentified controlling location or one or more second identified staginglocations, a primary network comprising a series of one or more forwardbills of distribution (BODs) that have been designated primary forwardBODs according to one or more criteria; select one or more of: the firstidentified staging location; the identified controlling locationconnected to the first identified staging location by a primary network;and one or more second identified staging locations; and generate one ormore repair orders according to which one or more unserviceable partsare to be moved from the selected locations to the repair vendor,repaired at the repair vendor, and moved from the repair vendor to thefirst identified staging location to meet the replenishment requirementat the first identified staging location.
 47. The software of claim 46,further operable to: access information indicating a demand requirementat the first identified staging location in the supply chain; and inresponse to the information indicating the demand requirement at thefirst identified staging location in the supply chain: withoutidentifying any primary networks in the supply chain connecting thefirst identified staging location to an identified controlling locationor one or more second identified staging locations, select one or moreof: the first identified staging location; the identified controllinglocations; and the identified staging locations; and generate one ormore repair orders according to which one or more unserviceable partsare to be moved from the selected locations to the repair vendor,repaired at the repair vendor, and moved from the repair vendor to thefirst identified staging location to meet the demand requirement at thefirst identified staging location.
 48. The software of claim 46, whereincriteria for designating a forward BOD a primary forward BOD compriseone or more of: whether the forward BOD is an only forward BOD betweentwo locations in the supply chain; and one or more costs associated withmoving parts according to the forward BOD.
 49. The software of claim 46,further operable, if an aggregate quantity of unserviceable parts at thefirst identified staging location, the identified controlling locationconnected to the first identified staging location by a primary network,and the one or more second identified staging locations each connectedto the first identified staging location by a primary network availableto meet the replenishment requirement at the first identified staginglocation is insufficient to fully satisfy the replenishment requirementat the first identified staging location, to indicate a need to procureone or more serviceable parts from a vendor outside the supply chain tomeet the replenishment requirement at the first identified staginglocation.
 50. The software of claim 49, further operable to indicatethat serviceable parts are to be procured from only one vendor, even ifa quantity of serviceable parts at the one vendor available to meet thereplenishment requirement at the first identified staging location isinsufficient to fully satisfy the replenishment requirement at the firstidentified staging location.
 51. The software of claim 46, furtheroperable to select one or more of the identified controlling locationconnected to the first identified staging location by a primary networkand the one or more second identified staging locations each connectedto the first identified staging location by a primary network only if aquantity of unserviceable parts at the first identified staging locationavailable to meet the replenishment requirement at the first identifiedstaging location is insufficient to fully satisfy the replenishmentrequirement at the first identified staging location.
 52. The softwareof claim 46, further operable to select one or more of the identifiedcontrolling location connected to the first identified staging locationby a primary network and the one or more identified second staginglocations each connected to the first identified staging location by aprimary network according to lane prioritization among reverse BODsconnecting the repair vendor to the identified controlling locationconnected to the first identified staging location by a primary networkand the identified second staging locations each connected to the firstidentified staging location by a primary network.
 53. The software ofclaim 46, comprising a service parts planning system.
 54. The softwareof claim 46, operable to access a table of controlling locations andstaging locations in the supply chain to identify one or morecontrolling locations and one or more staging locations in the supplychain.
 55. A system for incorporating a repair vendor into repairplanning for a supply chain, the repair vendor being outside the supplychain and substantially independent of control from the supply chain,unserviceable parts being moved from the supply chain to the repairvendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved back to the supplychain, the system comprising: means for accessing a logicalrepresentation of the supply chain; means for identifying one or morecontrolling locations and one or more staging locations in the supplychain, a controlling location comprising a location in the supply chainfrom which unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendorand to which serviceable parts are moved directly from the repairvendor, a staging location comprising a location in the supply chainfrom which unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendorand to which serviceable parts are moved from the repair vendor througha controlling location; means for accessing information indicating areplenishment requirement at a particular identified controllinglocation, the replenishment requirement resulting from safety stock atthe particular identified controlling location dropping below apredetermined threshold; and means for, in response to the informationindicating the replenishment requirement at the particular identifiedcontrolling location: identifying every primary network in the supplychain connecting the particular identified controlling location to oneor more identified staging locations, a primary network comprising aseries of one or more forward bills of distribution (BODs) that havebeen designated primary forward BODs according to one or more criteria;selecting one or more of: the particular identified controllinglocation; and one or more identified staging locations each connected tothe particular identified controlling location by a primary network; andgenerating one or more repair orders according to which one or moreunserviceable parts are to be moved from the selected locations to therepair vendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved from the repairvendor to the particular identified controlling location to meet thereplenishment requirement at the particular identified controllinglocation.
 56. A system for incorporating a repair vendor into repairplanning for a supply chain, the repair vendor being outside the supplychain and substantially independent of control from the supply chain,unserviceable parts being moved from the supply chain to the repairvendor, repaired at the repair vendor, and moved back to the supplychain, the system comprising: means for accessing a logicalrepresentation of the supply chain; means for identifying one or morecontrolling locations and one or more staging locations in the supplychain, a controlling location comprising a location in the supply chainfrom which unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendorand to which serviceable parts are moved directly from the repairvendor, a staging location comprising a location in the supply chainfrom which unserviceable parts are moved directly to the repair vendorand to which serviceable parts are moved from the repair vendor througha controlling location; means for accessing information indicating areplenishment requirement at a first identified staging location in thesupply chain, the replenishment requirement resulting from safety stockat the first identified staging location dropping below a predeterminedthreshold; and means for, in response to the information indicating thereplenishment requirement at the first identified staging location:identifying every primary network in the supply chain connecting thefirst identified staging location to an identified controlling locationor one or more second identified staging locations, a primary networkcomprising a series of one or more forward bills of distribution (BODs)that have been designated primary forward BODs according to one or morecriteria; selecting one or more of: the first identified staginglocation; the identified controlling location connected to the firstidentified staging location by a primary network; and one or more secondidentified staging locations; and generating one or more repair ordersaccording to which one or more unserviceable parts are to be moved fromthe selected locations to the repair vendor, repaired at the repairvendor, and moved from the repair vendor to the first identified staginglocation to meet the replenishment requirement at the first identifiedstaging location.